Ofer Yizhar
@oyiz.bsky.social
Neuroscientist at the Weizmann Institute. Neural circuits for social behavior, memory and decisions; developer of optogenetic tools. Outside the lab, it’s family, running, music in many forms.
Pinned
Ofer Yizhar
@oyiz.bsky.social
· Sep 12
Excited to share our latest paper - now out in @science.org - we showed how oxytocin modulates maternally-directed behavior in young mice (P15).
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
The field is buzzing about work on brain-computer interfaces for speech, the mechanism of psychedelics, a broader definition of hippocampal representations and more.
www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
The buzziest neuroscience papers of 2023, 2024
The field took note of work on brain-computer interfaces for speech, the mechanism of psychedelics, defining hippocampal representations, and more.
www.thetransmitter.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The field is buzzing about work on brain-computer interfaces for speech, the mechanism of psychedelics, a broader definition of hippocampal representations and more.
www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Our microbial-opsin work (and most of the field ) is basic science, but it was intriguing to review clinical progress–direct & indirect–with a wonderful team of co-authors
t.co/JrJen2WGBV
& adapt a fig. of PMID:28912215 (2017) with my long-time collaborator Peter Hegemann (pic: a memory from 2017).
t.co/JrJen2WGBV
& adapt a fig. of PMID:28912215 (2017) with my long-time collaborator Peter Hegemann (pic: a memory from 2017).
November 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Our microbial-opsin work (and most of the field ) is basic science, but it was intriguing to review clinical progress–direct & indirect–with a wonderful team of co-authors
t.co/JrJen2WGBV
& adapt a fig. of PMID:28912215 (2017) with my long-time collaborator Peter Hegemann (pic: a memory from 2017).
t.co/JrJen2WGBV
& adapt a fig. of PMID:28912215 (2017) with my long-time collaborator Peter Hegemann (pic: a memory from 2017).
Really cool stuff! Engineered excitatory opsins responding to 15nW light
WAChRs are excitatory opsins sensitive to indoor lighting www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 18, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Really cool stuff! Engineered excitatory opsins responding to 15nW light
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Breaking a hiatus to post this.
A group of Israeli Social Psychologists, myself included, wrote a letter to speak out clearly against the Israeli government’s decisions and the resulting devastation in Gaza.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
In hopes of peace and safety for all, and soon
A group of Israeli Social Psychologists, myself included, wrote a letter to speak out clearly against the Israeli government’s decisions and the resulting devastation in Gaza.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
In hopes of peace and safety for all, and soon
A Letter by Israeli Social Psychologists
Dear friends of the Social Psychology community, After October 7, a group of Israeli social psychologists, including many of us, wrote a letter expressing our deep shock at the massacre, abuse, rape,...
docs.google.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Breaking a hiatus to post this.
A group of Israeli Social Psychologists, myself included, wrote a letter to speak out clearly against the Israeli government’s decisions and the resulting devastation in Gaza.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
In hopes of peace and safety for all, and soon
A group of Israeli Social Psychologists, myself included, wrote a letter to speak out clearly against the Israeli government’s decisions and the resulting devastation in Gaza.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
In hopes of peace and safety for all, and soon
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Very cool study by @oyiz.bsky.social using optogenetics to shed light on how oxytocin signaling regulates vocalization to maintain maternal bonds (with nice write-up by @bellonec.bsky.social, “Cries into ties” indeed) 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Cries into ties
Oxytocin neurons in mouse pups regulate vocalization to maintain maternal bonds
www.science.org
September 12, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Very cool study by @oyiz.bsky.social using optogenetics to shed light on how oxytocin signaling regulates vocalization to maintain maternal bonds (with nice write-up by @bellonec.bsky.social, “Cries into ties” indeed) 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Excited to share our latest paper - now out in @science.org - we showed how oxytocin modulates maternally-directed behavior in young mice (P15).
September 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Excited to share our latest paper - now out in @science.org - we showed how oxytocin modulates maternally-directed behavior in young mice (P15).
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
In the past year and a half, we have been intensively protesting and fighting the Israeli government in an attempt to stop the war, secure the release of all hostages, and prevent the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Until now, our protests have primarily been focused internally.
July 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
In the past year and a half, we have been intensively protesting and fighting the Israeli government in an attempt to stop the war, secure the release of all hostages, and prevent the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Until now, our protests have primarily been focused internally.
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
What time is it? ⏰
Time to talk about the brain! 🧠
Opening the Neurotechnologies plenary session is @oyiz.bsky.social of Weizmann Inst. of Science. He is discussing new tools that allow highly light-sensitive silencing AND facilitate spectral multiplexing for modulation + imaging.
#PhotonicsWest
Time to talk about the brain! 🧠
Opening the Neurotechnologies plenary session is @oyiz.bsky.social of Weizmann Inst. of Science. He is discussing new tools that allow highly light-sensitive silencing AND facilitate spectral multiplexing for modulation + imaging.
#PhotonicsWest
January 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM
What time is it? ⏰
Time to talk about the brain! 🧠
Opening the Neurotechnologies plenary session is @oyiz.bsky.social of Weizmann Inst. of Science. He is discussing new tools that allow highly light-sensitive silencing AND facilitate spectral multiplexing for modulation + imaging.
#PhotonicsWest
Time to talk about the brain! 🧠
Opening the Neurotechnologies plenary session is @oyiz.bsky.social of Weizmann Inst. of Science. He is discussing new tools that allow highly light-sensitive silencing AND facilitate spectral multiplexing for modulation + imaging.
#PhotonicsWest
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
First post on Bluesky!✨
(1/7) Far-red dopamine sensor is coming! Excited to introduce our chemigenetic DA sensor, HaloDA1.0! #Dopamine #FarRedSensors, #GRAB www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
(1/7) Far-red dopamine sensor is coming! Excited to introduce our chemigenetic DA sensor, HaloDA1.0! #Dopamine #FarRedSensors, #GRAB www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
December 24, 2024 at 1:59 AM
First post on Bluesky!✨
(1/7) Far-red dopamine sensor is coming! Excited to introduce our chemigenetic DA sensor, HaloDA1.0! #Dopamine #FarRedSensors, #GRAB www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
(1/7) Far-red dopamine sensor is coming! Excited to introduce our chemigenetic DA sensor, HaloDA1.0! #Dopamine #FarRedSensors, #GRAB www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
December 23, 2024 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Neuroscience students asked us to teach a PRACTICAL course on experimental methods, and it is now on YouTube!
Please like and repost to help us get the word out!
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Lecture 1: Signals and data acquisition
Focusing on hardware, digital/analog I/O, synchronization
🧵
Please like and repost to help us get the word out!
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Lecture 1: Signals and data acquisition
Focusing on hardware, digital/analog I/O, synchronization
🧵
Neuroscience methods - YouTube
Nanocourse: Approaches to Study Neural Circuits This course was taught by Anita Autry, Tiago Gonçalves, and Luke Sjulson at Albert Einstein College of Medici...
www.youtube.com
December 13, 2024 at 11:33 AM
Neuroscience students asked us to teach a PRACTICAL course on experimental methods, and it is now on YouTube!
Please like and repost to help us get the word out!
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Lecture 1: Signals and data acquisition
Focusing on hardware, digital/analog I/O, synchronization
🧵
Please like and repost to help us get the word out!
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Lecture 1: Signals and data acquisition
Focusing on hardware, digital/analog I/O, synchronization
🧵
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Related to this, I created a starter pack for those interested/involved in Epilepsy research. Many of the DBS folks may also be interested.
go.bsky.app/B8pPi1n
go.bsky.app/B8pPi1n
November 14, 2024 at 8:55 PM
Related to this, I created a starter pack for those interested/involved in Epilepsy research. Many of the DBS folks may also be interested.
go.bsky.app/B8pPi1n
go.bsky.app/B8pPi1n
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Upon popular demand I created a started pack for people interested in Deep Brain Stimulation!
Lmk if you'd like to be added!
go.bsky.app/B9A9Cho
Lmk if you'd like to be added!
go.bsky.app/B9A9Cho
November 13, 2024 at 1:24 PM
Upon popular demand I created a started pack for people interested in Deep Brain Stimulation!
Lmk if you'd like to be added!
go.bsky.app/B9A9Cho
Lmk if you'd like to be added!
go.bsky.app/B9A9Cho
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
How to rebuild your network on @bsky.app and improve your experience here?
I made a short starter guide with resources.
www.neuronaldynamics.eu/resources/bl...
Also, a thread 🧵 below.
I made a short starter guide with resources.
www.neuronaldynamics.eu/resources/bl...
Also, a thread 🧵 below.
November 17, 2024 at 2:01 PM
How to rebuild your network on @bsky.app and improve your experience here?
I made a short starter guide with resources.
www.neuronaldynamics.eu/resources/bl...
Also, a thread 🧵 below.
I made a short starter guide with resources.
www.neuronaldynamics.eu/resources/bl...
Also, a thread 🧵 below.
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
One difference is that the DIO approach leads to the permanent removal of DNA, making it irreversible. For SIO an equilibrium between forward and reverse recombinantion is created. However the reverse probability is low, creating a bias to the activated state. In practice expression levels are good.
The lox66/71 idea is not new - it came from this paper: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC... by Beat Lutz. It was just never used in AAV as far as we know. The idea is that after Cre recombination between these two sites, the resulting sites are no longer recognized by Cre and can't recombine again
November 29, 2024 at 8:50 AM
One difference is that the DIO approach leads to the permanent removal of DNA, making it irreversible. For SIO an equilibrium between forward and reverse recombinantion is created. However the reverse probability is low, creating a bias to the activated state. In practice expression levels are good.
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Important paper!
www.biorxiv.org/content/bior...
Im not sure the Discussion fully delineates its radical implications.
No more...
* Place cells
* Grid cells, splitter cells, border cells
* Mirror neurons
* Reward neurons
* Conflict cells
(continued)
www.biorxiv.org/content/bior...
Im not sure the Discussion fully delineates its radical implications.
No more...
* Place cells
* Grid cells, splitter cells, border cells
* Mirror neurons
* Reward neurons
* Conflict cells
(continued)
www.biorxiv.org
November 22, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Important paper!
www.biorxiv.org/content/bior...
Im not sure the Discussion fully delineates its radical implications.
No more...
* Place cells
* Grid cells, splitter cells, border cells
* Mirror neurons
* Reward neurons
* Conflict cells
(continued)
www.biorxiv.org/content/bior...
Im not sure the Discussion fully delineates its radical implications.
No more...
* Place cells
* Grid cells, splitter cells, border cells
* Mirror neurons
* Reward neurons
* Conflict cells
(continued)
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
A moment in time: Dieter Oesterhelt passed away in Münich on this day (November 28) in 2022. He identified the 1st microbial rhodopsin more than 50 years ago, with far-reaching impact that could hardly have been imagined.
laskerfoundation.org/in-memoriam-...
laskerfoundation.org/in-memoriam-...
November 28, 2024 at 8:07 AM
A moment in time: Dieter Oesterhelt passed away in Münich on this day (November 28) in 2022. He identified the 1st microbial rhodopsin more than 50 years ago, with far-reaching impact that could hardly have been imagined.
laskerfoundation.org/in-memoriam-...
laskerfoundation.org/in-memoriam-...
Many people have asked me what's the deal with "SIO" in our Addgene vectors (www.addgene.org/Ofer_Yizhar/) - we use these in most of our Cre-dependent AAVs - so here's a brief explanation of how it works.
www.addgene.org
November 28, 2024 at 6:12 PM
Many people have asked me what's the deal with "SIO" in our Addgene vectors (www.addgene.org/Ofer_Yizhar/) - we use these in most of our Cre-dependent AAVs - so here's a brief explanation of how it works.
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
PdCO has now been distributed 100x via @addgene.bsky.social
🥳🥳🥳🙏🙏🙏
🥳🥳🥳🙏🙏🙏
Against all odds: PdCO, a versatile switchable optogenetic tool for inhibiting synaptic transmission in neuronal terminals in vivo is finally published @naturemethods #neuroskyence #optogenetics
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A bistable inhibitory optoGPCR for multiplexed optogenetic control of neural circuits - Nature Methods
PdCO is a switchable optogenetic tool for inhibiting synaptic transmission in neuronal terminals in vivo, as demonstrated in a variety of contexts mainly in the mouse.
www.nature.com
November 19, 2024 at 4:06 PM
PdCO has now been distributed 100x via @addgene.bsky.social
🥳🥳🥳🙏🙏🙏
🥳🥳🥳🙏🙏🙏
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Announcing a new open access textbook for entry level behavioral neuro. Funded by NSF. Written by a collection of 26 neuro experts. Method demonstration videos and author interviews too. Consider using it in your courses to reduce financial barriers to education.
openstax.org/details/book...
openstax.org/details/book...
November 15, 2024 at 10:56 AM
Announcing a new open access textbook for entry level behavioral neuro. Funded by NSF. Written by a collection of 26 neuro experts. Method demonstration videos and author interviews too. Consider using it in your courses to reduce financial barriers to education.
openstax.org/details/book...
openstax.org/details/book...
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
Reposted by Ofer Yizhar
We’re seeking a postdoc/student excited about animal communication, brain-wide circuits, microscopy, singing fish (Danionella), wacky ideas and who likes to: get things done, experiment, analyze, ask, learn, help and cooperate. jlab.berlin
November 3, 2024 at 12:22 PM
We’re seeking a postdoc/student excited about animal communication, brain-wide circuits, microscopy, singing fish (Danionella), wacky ideas and who likes to: get things done, experiment, analyze, ask, learn, help and cooperate. jlab.berlin
Hello bluesky please accept this offering of a picture from my recent run with @franklandlab.bsky.social
November 13, 2024 at 7:42 AM
Hello bluesky please accept this offering of a picture from my recent run with @franklandlab.bsky.social